Free Pass Yorkshire
York City Walls, York
York City WallsPhoto: Jhsteel · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons

Free things to do in York

York is one of the easiest places in Yorkshire to fill a day without paying a penny. You can walk the York City Walls, the longest town walls in England, wander the ruins of St Mary's Abbey in Museum Gardens, and spend hours among the locomotives at the National Railway Museum, which has been free to enter since 2001.

Beyond the big names there are small free museums like the Kohima Museum, medieval gateways such as Micklegate Bar and Monk Bar, the timber-framed Shambles and a trail of cat statues to spot on the buildings. Out of the centre you'll find quiet nature reserves like Foss Islands and Clifton Backies, so York works in any season: museums when it rains, walls and gardens when it's dry.

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Highlights

The Shambles
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Photo: Vincej at en.wikipedia · Public domain · via Wikimedia Commons
York Cat Trail
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Photo: Alan Hunt · CC BY-SA 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
Roman Column
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Photo: Chabe01 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
Emperor Constantine
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Photo: Gernot Keller · CC BY 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
Museum Gardens
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Photo: HMcpherson · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
St Mary's Abbey
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Photo: Kaly99 · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons

Best for rainy days

On a wet day, head for the National Railway Museum, a short walk from York station, where the Great Hall has a working turntable and the royal carriages are under cover. The Norman Rea Art Gallery and the Kohima Museum are smaller free options, but check opening times first (the Kohima Museum normally opens on Thursday mornings only).

National Railway Museum🏛️ Museum📍 YorkGiant halls of locomotives, royal carriages and a working turntable.✓ Free · donations welcomeNorman Rea Art Gallery🖼️ Art gallery📍 HeslingtonA museum or gallery near Heslington.Free entry · paid extrasKohima Museum🏛️ Museum📍 YorkA museum or gallery near York.Free entry · paid extras

Best for families

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Kids love hunting for the cat statues on the York Cat Trail (pick up a free map in town and remember to look up), and the National Railway Museum is free and full of trains to climb around. For a run around, try Museum Gardens in the centre or Wheldrake Play Area on the edge of the city.

The Shambles🏘️ Historic street or village📍 YorkYork's famous crooked medieval shopping street.✓ FreeYork Cat Trail🔎 Self-guided trail📍 YorkFind the cat statues perched on buildings around old York.✓ FreeYork City Walls🚪 City walls & gates📍 YorkWalk around York on the longest medieval town walls in England.✓ FreeMuseum Gardens🌳 Park📍 YorkTen-acre botanical Museum Gardens, around the Yorkshire Museum and set in the surroundings of the medieval ruins of St. Mary’s Abbey. Established in the 1830s by the Yorkshire Philosophical Society, t✓ FreeNational Railway Museum🏛️ Museum📍 YorkGiant halls of locomotives, royal carriages and a working turntable.✓ Free · donations welcomeYork Beach🏖️ Beach📍 YorkA beach to explore near York.✓ Free

Best for walks and views

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The York City Walls make a free elevated loop of around two miles around the centre, free to walk all year. For something greener, try the nature reserves at Foss Islands, St Nicholas Fields, Clifton Backies or Huntington Riverside Environmental Park.

Foss Islands Nature Reserve🦆 Nature reserve📍 YorkA nature reserve to explore on foot near York.✓ FreeSt Nicholas Fields LNR🦆 Nature reserve📍 Foss IslandsA nature reserve to explore on foot near Foss Islands.✓ FreeFulford Cross Nature Reserve🦆 Nature reserve📍 YorkA nature reserve to explore on foot near York.✓ FreeHempland Lane Wildlife Area🦆 Nature reserve📍 HeworthA nature reserve to explore on foot near Heworth.✓ FreeMayfield Grove Nature Reserve🦆 Nature reserve📍 DringhousesA nature reserve to explore on foot near Dringhouses.✓ FreeClifton Backies Local Nature Reserve🦆 Nature reserve📍 Clifton WithoutA nature reserve to explore on foot near Clifton Without.✓ Free

Best for history

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The city walls began as a Roman fort around AD 71 and still have four main bars: Micklegate Bar, Bootham Bar, Monk Bar and Walmgate Bar, which has the only surviving barbican on a town gate in England. Don't miss the ruins of St Mary's Abbey in Museum Gardens, the Roman Column near the Minster and the overhanging medieval buildings of the Shambles.

The Shambles🏘️ Historic street or village📍 YorkYork's famous crooked medieval shopping street.✓ FreeRoman Column🗿 Monument📍 YorkRoman column found during 1969 York Minster excavtions. Comes from the Great Hall / Principia.✓ FreeYork City Walls🚪 City walls & gates📍 YorkWalk around York on the longest medieval town walls in England.✓ FreeSt Mary's Abbey⛪ Abbey & priory📍 YorkRuined Benedictine abbey (Source: Wikipedia:en)✓ FreeRobin Hood Tower🏯 Folly or tower📍 YorkTower on the City Walls. There has been a tower here since at least 1370, but te present one was built 1888-89.✓ FreeMicklegate Bar🚪 City walls & gates📍 YorkSouthern gateway or "bar" to the medieval city of York.✓ Free

All free places in York

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Emperor Constantine🎨 Public art & sculpture📍 YorkModern statue of Emperor Constantine in seated postion.✓ FreeRound and Down🎨 Public art & sculpture📍 Yorkspiral blue pipes✓ Freedevil🎨 Public art & sculpture📍 YorkPublic art to spot on a walk in York.✓ FreeNorman House🧱 Ruins📍 YorkA historic site to explore near York.✓ FreeNorth Street Gardens🌳 Park📍 YorkA public park and green space near York.✓ FreeSaint Peter🎨 Public art & sculpture📍 YorkPublic art to spot on a walk in York.✓ FreeIce House🧱 Ruins📍 YorkA historic site to explore near York.✓ FreeMonk Bar🚪 City walls & gates📍 YorkA historic site to explore near York.✓ FreeTower Gardens, St George's Field🌳 Park📍 YorkA public park and green space near York.✓ FreeBootham Bar🏰 Castle📍 YorkA historic site to explore near York.✓ FreeFriesan Calf🎨 Public art & sculpture📍 YorkPublic art to spot on a walk in York.✓ FreeQueen Margaret's Arch🚪 City walls & gates📍 YorkA historic site to explore near York.✓ FreeWilliam Etty🎨 Public art & sculpture📍 YorkPublic art to spot on a walk in York.✓ FreeGeorge Leeman🎨 Public art & sculpture📍 YorkPublic art to spot on a walk in York.✓ FreeEdible Garden🌳 Park📍 YorkA public park and green space near York.✓ FreeThe Mosaic Map🎨 Public art & sculpture📍 YorkPublic art to spot on a walk in York.✓ FreeFishergate Postern Tower🏰 Castle📍 YorkA historic site to explore near York.✓ FreeVictoria Bar🚪 City walls & gates📍 YorkA historic site to explore near York.✓ FreeFishergate Bar🚪 City walls & gates📍 YorkA historic site to explore near York.✓ FreeCity Walls🚪 City walls & gates📍 YorkA historic site to explore near York.✓ FreeWalmgate Bar🚪 City walls & gates📍 YorkA historic site to explore near York.✓ FreeTotem Pole🎨 Public art & sculpture📍 YorkPublic art to spot on a walk in York.✓ FreeClarence Gardens🌳 Park📍 YorkA public park and green space near York.✓ FreeThe Fairy Tower🎨 Public art & sculpture📍 YorkPublic art to spot on a walk in York.✓ Free
See everything within 10 miles of York ›

Upcoming free events

Tue13OctGhosts in the Gardens Sculpture Trail🔎 Trail📍 YorkA free trail through York of translucent wire 'ghost' sculptures of people from the city's past, set in gardens, ruins and streets. Runs until 1 November.✓ FreeMon26OctThe Little York Ghost Hunt🔎 Trail📍 YorkAn evening hunt in half term for hundreds of little toy ghosts hidden in the old streets around York Minster. Free, with no tickets needed.✓ FreeThu12NovYork Christmas Market🛍️ Market📍 YorkYork's big festive market on Parliament Street and St Sampson's Square. Free to walk round; closed every Tuesday.Free entry · paid extras

Getting there and around

York station is on the East Coast Main Line, with LNER trains direct from London King's Cross in about two and a half hours, plus TransPennine Express, CrossCountry and Northern services from Leeds, Newcastle, Scarborough and beyond. The council runs Park & Ride sites at Askham Bar, Grimston Bar, Monks Cross, Poppleton Bar and Rawcliffe Bar, with another at the Designer Outlet, which is usually easier than driving into the centre. City centre parking is paid, and the long stay car park at the station has been closed while a new multi-storey is built. The National Railway Museum is within walking distance of the station.

Questions people ask about York

What free things are there to do in York?

You can walk the York City Walls, explore Museum Gardens and the ruins of St Mary's Abbey, and visit the National Railway Museum, all for free. The Shambles, the York Cat Trail and the old city gates like Micklegate Bar and Monk Bar are free to see too.

Are York's museums free?

Some are. The National Railway Museum is free to enter (some extras like Wonderlab are charged), and the Kohima Museum is free but opens limited hours and you need photo ID to get into the barracks. The Yorkshire Museum inside Museum Gardens charges, although the gardens themselves are free.

Can you walk the York city walls for free?

Yes. City of York Council says the walls walkway is free and can be accessed on foot throughout the year. The council publishes opening and closing times on its website, so check before you go. The full loop is around two miles.

What can kids do for free in York?

Try the York Cat Trail, where children spot over 20 cat statues on buildings around the old city, or spend a few hours at the free National Railway Museum. Museum Gardens is a good place for a picnic and a run around.

Also nearby

Everything within 10 miles ›
Hart🎨 Public art & sculpture📍 New Earswick2.5 mi from YorkPublic art to spot on a walk in New Earswick.✓ FreeHuntington Riverside Environmental Park🦆 Nature reserve📍 Huntington3.1 mi from YorkA nature reserve to explore on foot near Huntington.✓ FreeWestfield Wood🌲 Woodland📍 Wigginton3.3 mi from YorkWoodland walks in Haxby.✓ FreeMoorland Nature Reserve Founded 1955🎨 Public art & sculpture📍 Wigginton4.6 mi from YorkPublic art to spot on a walk in Wigginton.✓ FreeMoorlands Nature Reserve🦆 Nature reserve📍 Wigginton4.7 mi from YorkA nature reserve to explore on foot near Wigginton.✓ FreeTree Hide🐦 Bird hide📍 Skelton4.7 mi from YorkA bird hide for free wildlife watching in Wigginton.✓ FreeWheldrake Play Area🛝 Playground📍 Wheldrake6.3 mi from YorkA public playground near Wheldrake.✓ FreeCatton Heritage Museum🏛️ Museum📍 Low Catton6.4 mi from YorkA museum or gallery near Low Catton.Free entry · paid extras

More free things to do in North Yorkshire ›

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